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Simon J. Marks
My background has inspired a desire to contribute toward natural resource management that strikes a careful balance between satisfying the anthropogenic and environmental resource requirements of today with those of the future. With my budding skills in research, hydrology, and statistical analysis, I am applying myself in water resource science as a graduate student. Taking great pride in my work, I hold myself, peers, and collaborators to high standards, while also exuding a calmness to minimize unnecessary stress.
Education
M.S., Environmental Sciences and Management
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
current - 2019
- Thesis: Estimating evapotranspiration of a mountain meadow encroached by conifers using sap flow measurements
- Expected June 2021
B.S., Environmental Management and Protection (minor statistics)
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, CA
2019 - 2015
- Concentration: Watershed management and hydrology
- Summa cum laude
Research Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
Dr. Chris Surfleet’s Lab
California Polytechnic State University
current - 2019
- Primarily working with sap flow field data to quantify evapotranspiration of a conifer encroached meadow near Chester, CA
- Managed maintenance of field instruments at meadow restoration study sites and developed R scripts designed to streamline compilation and temporal aggregation of field data
- Performed regression analysis (MLR) to study hydrologic and suspended sediment effects of forest roads at the Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed
Summer Undergraduate Researcher
Dr. Chris Surfleet’s Lab
California Polytechnic State University
Summer 2018
- Completed sub-surface soil sampling, performed soil particle size distribution lab analysis, and computed soil hydraulic properties in support of meadow restoration research- presented results with a poster at an on campus research symposium to conclude the summer
- Cleaned and analyzed storm event peak flow and sediment discharge data collected at the Caspar Creek Experimental Watershed needed for distributed hydrology soil vegetation model (DHSVM) development
Industry Experience
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Intern
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Sacramento, CA
Summer 2017
- Worked within the Office of Spill Prevention and Response on tasks related to injury assessment and environmental sampling including development of environmental reports, field documentation, checklists, and operating procedures
- Created an instructional ‘how to’ video detailing field procedures when collecting environmental samples following a deleterious material spill event
Teaching Experience
Watershed Processes and Management TA
Cal Poly NRES Dept.
San Luis Obispo, CA
current - 2019
- Covered (all field based) streamflow measurement, stream channel and riparian assessment, road erosion hazard rating, and water quality measurement
- Assisted in GIS-based labs, troubleshooting spatial analyst tools
Supplemental Workshops in Science Facilitator
Cal Poly Academic Skills Center
San Luis Obispo, CA
2018 - 2016
- Facilitated medium groups of undergraduate students, providing instruction in chemistry coursework and promoting community/collaboration
Academic Projects
Evaluation of Lower Scotts Creek Floodplain and Habitat Enhancement Project in HEC-RAS
CE 536: Computer Applications in Water Resources with GIS
N/A
Spring 2020
- Ran steady flow analysis at lower Scotts Creek (near Davenport, CA) to compare floodplain activation between pre and post-restoration states in the context of salmonid habitat improvement
1-Way ANOVA- Model Representations, Power, and Sample Size Tutorial
STAT 431: Advanced Statistical Computing in R
N/A
Spring 2020
- Authored tutorial using the
bookdownpackage, showcasing the means and effects models including their manual implementation via matrix algebra - Demonstrated data viz skills using
ggplot2andgganimatepackages, creating static and dynamic figures communicating the role of power and sample size in ANOVA
Froom Ranch Specific Plan Draft EIR
NR 425: Applied Resource Analysis and Assessment
N/A
Fall 2018
- Identified environmental impacts and prescribed respective mitigation measures pertaining to hydrology, aesthetics, public services, and recreation for a locally proposed project in San Luis Obispo, CA
Morro Bay Water Reclamation Facility Proposal to Prepare EIR
NR 416: Environmental Impact Analysis and Management
N/A
Fall 2017
- Gained familiarity with the CEQA process, specifically environmental impacts associated with hydrologic, geologic, biologic, and aesthetic resources
Academic Publications
Hydrologic and suspended sediment effects of forest roads using field and DHSVM modelling studies
Under-Review in Forest Ecology and Management (copy available upon request.)
N/A
2021
- Authored with Chris Surfleet of the California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo NRES Dept.
Awards and Honors
Hull Graduate Assistantship
N/A
N/A
2019
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Dean’s List
N/A
N/A
2019 - 2015
Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) Scholarship
N/A
N/A
2018